Quick as Lightning!

Posted on August 1, 2025 by jesustrek

I recently returned from a family vacation at Panama City Beach, Florida. We had a fun time on the beach and in the water. We found some wonderful places to eat. Of course, we made the time to seek out a good church to worship with on Sunday. It was a great time to relax and have fun.

The weather was good for the most part. There was one day when storms were looming in the area, and we decided not to go down to the beach. I was sitting by myself on the balcony of our condo on the 13th floor, listening to the rumbling thunder in the distance, not at all concerned about any threatening weather.

Suddenly, a flash of lightning occurred right in front of me! It was accompanied by a simultaneous clap of the loudest thunder I have ever heard! I immediately rushed inside, much to the enjoyment of my family, who were quite amused at the quickness of my movements and the event that caused me to decide to join them.

Jesus compares his Second Coming to be like a flash of lightning. Luke 17:24 says, “For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.”

When Jesus returns, it will happen very quickly, just like a flash of lightning. There will be no time to change your circumstances. No time to profess faith in Jesus. No time to repent. No time to be baptized. No time to be added to the church. The time for decisions will have passed. Your station in eternity will be settled once and for all.

Therefore, the time for decisions is now. Jesus constantly warns in his teachings that we must be ready for his return. Please take his exhortations seriously, for yourself and for those you are trying to reach with the gospel message.

As the apostle Paul says in 2 Cor.6:2, “…I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

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Faithful In the Small Things

Posted on July 29, 2025 by jesustrek

“I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty and joy to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble… For the world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker.” –Helen Keller

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…” –Eccl.9:10

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” –Col.3:17

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Being Enthusiastic

Posted on July 24, 2025 by jesustrek

A man was shocked to see a dog playing cards with three other men. He asked, “Can that dog really play cards?” One of the men answered, “Yes, but he’s not very good. Whenever he gets a good hand he wags his tail.”

Most of us would say that God has blessed us greatly. You might say that we have been “dealt a good hand”.

Can others tell how we have been blessed by seeing our enthusiasm?

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”—Romans 12:11.

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Taking Initiative

Posted on July 19, 2025 by jesustrek

A young boy once complained to his father that the songs they sang at church were boring and old-fashioned, and that they did not appeal to his generation. His father challenged him by saying, “If you think you can write better songs, then why don’t you?”

The boy accepted his challenge, went to his room, and wrote his first song. The year was 1690, and the young man was Isaac Watts. Among his 350 hymns are “Joy to the World”, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”, “I Sing the Almighty Power of God”, and many other classics.

Rather than complaining about how things are, let’s try to do something to make life better!

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”—Matt.5:14.

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They Just Don’t Understand

Posted on July 14, 2025 by jesustrek

The people who do not obey God are often confounded by those who do. 1 Peter 4:4 says, “They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.”

Those who don’t obey God don’t understand why anyone would: go to church, tithe, refuse to use bad language, refrain from drunkenness, be a stickler for the truth, choose not to engage in sexual immorality, etc. They might even ridicule you or call you names because you do not share their godless approach to life.

We will gladly accept their abuse in return for the blessings that God has in store for those who obey him.

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Coming to Your Senses

Posted on July 11, 2025 by jesustrek

One of my favorite phrases in Scripture is found in the story of the Prodigal Son, from Luke 15. Verse 17 of that chapter starts out, “When he came to his senses…”

This young man had turned his back on a wonderful life on his father’s estate and squandered everything he had on sinful living. It was only when he reached his lowest point—a flat broke Jewish boy feeding pigs for a meager living—that he realized what he had given up and the depths to which he had fallen. It was only then that he came to his senses.

Many of us have had a similar “coming to our senses” moment. Suddenly realizing that you are wallowing in a pig pen of sin can be a life-changing moment.

Let’s be thankful that our heavenly Father is willing to accept any of his repentant children back home again!

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The Applause of Heaven

Posted on June 30, 2025 by jesustrek

I love this writing by Max Lucado:

“You’ll be home soon, too. You may not have noticed it, but you are closer to home than ever before. Each moment is a step taken. Each breath is a page turned. Each day is a mile marked, a mountain climbed. You are closer to home than you’ve ever been.

Before you know it, your appointed arrival time will come; you’ll descend the ramp and enter the City. You’ll see faces that are waiting for you. You’ll hear your name spoken by those who love you. And, maybe, just maybe –in the back, behind the crowd –the One who would rather die than live without you will remove his pierced hands from his heavenly robe and … applaud.”

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” –Matt.25:21.

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Don’t Put It Off

Posted on June 27, 2025 by jesustrek

After hearing his dad preach on “justification”, “sanctification”, and all the other “—ations”, a minister’s son was ready when his Sunday school teacher asked if anybody knew what “procrastination” meant. The boy answered, “I’m not sure what it means, but I know our church believes in it!”

Most of the time procrastination is not a good thing!

“…I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”—2 Cor.6:2b.

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When Time Is Short

Posted on June 21, 2025 by jesustrek

A doctor gave his patient a thorough examination and solemnly announced, “I think you have about ten more to live.” Deeply alarmed, the man replied, “Ten what!? Years? Months?” The doctor answered, “Nine, eight, seven…”

What do we do when time is short? The Bible has some answers for us. 1 Pet.4:7-11 says, “The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

We are nearer the end of all things than we have ever been before. Therefore we must pray. Here Peter echoes the words of Jesus, who often urges his followers to prepare for his Second Coming by watching and praying. To pray properly we must be alert and sober-minded. We must be aware of what is going on in the world around us and keep our minds clear for effective prayer to take place. Don’t be distracted. Keep your mind clear. Be serious about prayer.

Then Peter says we must love each other deeply. Jesus says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35). How can we love our neighbor—and even our enemies! –if we can’t even love our fellow Christians? We need to strive to love our brothers and sisters in Christ more and more and always be looking for opportunities to put that love into practice.

Finally, Peter says that we need to use the gifts that God has given us. Sometimes the exercise of those gifts involves speaking. Other times it involves serving. Whether we are speaking or doing, the Lord is our source of wisdom and strength. It is God who provides us with all we need to say and do the right things to promote the kingdom of God, thus giving him the glory and praise that he truly deserves.

Knowing that time is short, this is how we must live.

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Forget It

Posted on June 20, 2025 by jesustrek

It is told that after the Civil War Robert E. Lee visited a woman in Kentucky who took him to the remains of a once magnificent tree that stood on her property. She complained to him that the tree had been destroyed by artillery fire from the Union army. She stood there waiting for Lee to condemn the North or at least sympathize with her. Instead, he said, “Cut it down, my dear madam, and forget it.”

When we are greatly wronged, we tend to want to hold on to the pain, and we might expect others to join us in our state of mourning. How much healthier it is to choose to forgive and put the incident in the past.

Is there any tree in your life that you need to cut down and forget?

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”—Col.3:13

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